ELENA SALMOIRAGO-BLOTCHER
MD, PHD, PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr. Salmoirago-Blotcher is a Senior Research Scientist at the Miriam Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Centers and an Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Brown University Alpert School of Medicine. She became a researcher after a nearly 20-year career as a cardiologist in her native Italy. Her research focuses on psycho-behavioral determinant of cardiovascular disease and and on novel approaches to cardiovascular prevention

EMILY GATHRIGHT
PHD, CO-INVESTIGATOR & STUDY PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr. Gathright is a Research Scientist at the Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at The Miriam Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School.

She is the study psychologist and co-investigator on the ongoing Broken Heart Study-II and the Mind Your Heart Study II.

JANICE TRIPOLONE
MS, MAT, SENIOR RESEARCH PROJECT DIRECTOR

Janice Tripolone has been at Lifespan for more than 30 years, working in both research and corporate wellness. She has extensive experience in the project management of studies promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles. She joined the team in 2020.

CHRISTOPHER BREAULT
BS, DATA SYSTEMS ANALYST

Chris Breault has been at Lifespan for over 20 years.  His role on this project is to create and maintain various database systems (e.g. data collection & subject tracking) as well as maintain quality assurance, confidentiality, and security of data.

SARA OUADDI
SC-B, RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Sara Ouaddi is a graduate of Brown University. She majored in Biology. She is very interested in women’s health and eager to learn more about cardiovascular research. Sara’s future plan is to pursue a career in medicine.

HILA POND
BS, RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Hila Pond earned her BS in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Hila is very interested in psychotherapy and plans to pursue a PhD in counseling or clinical psychology. Hila is currently assisting in the Mind Your Heart Project.

MADELEINE DAY
BA, RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Madeleine Day is a Research Assistant at the Lifespan Clinical Research Center working with the Mind and Heart Lab Team. She received her BA from the University of Connecticut where she conducted research with the University’s Developmental Psychology Department and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Her previous research focused on socioeconomic disparities and health repercussions for marginalized peoples and communities. She is now working as a research assistant on the Mind 2 Move Study

COURTNEY BOWEN
MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH INTERN

Courtney Bowen earned her BA in Economics from Stanford University and is currently pursuing her MD at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Courtney joined the Mind & Heart lab in 2023 as a medical student research intern. Her clinical interests center around exploring novel therapeutic approaches to address critical patient needs. She looks forward to pursuing a medical career that is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and access to these therapies, in hopes of meaningfully and equitably transforming patient health outcomes.

NATALIE KEIRNS
PHD, POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Natalie Keirns earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2023. She joined the Mind & Heart Lab in 2022 as a graduate research intern while completing her behavioral medicine residency at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is now a postdoctoral research associate interested in mechanisms linking psychosocial stress and cardiometabolic disease, as well as psycho-behavioral approaches to disease prevention.

CAROLE LEGRO
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR

Carole Legro is a MindBody Educator and psychotherapist with over 35 years experience inviting individuals into the experience of the meditative arts.  With a passion for understanding the ways of healing, she has studied and taught numerous approaches in a variety of traditions, including meditation, movement, psychology, stress reduction, and the metaphysical arts since the 1960’s. In her work, both private and group, Carole is passionate about creating a safe environment for process, and the cultivation of deep inner resources for integrating and healing mind, body, and spirit through awareness, insight, and stress reduction.

PRISCILLA SZNEKE
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR

Priscilla Szneke is a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and a Certified Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) teacher.  She is a Qualified Behavior Change Facilitator and approved to teach Finding Peace in a Frantic World.  She has taught these and other mindfulness-based programs for well-being and resilience to non-profits, corporations, the community and individuals for over a decade. Presently, she is Adjunct Faculty at the Mindfulness Center at Brown.

ALEX ZIMA
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR

Alex Zima is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor and mindfulness- and trauma-informed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Alex has a long track record of promoting mind-body health in clinical, education and workplace settings. He began his own meditation and yoga practice over 30 years ago and enjoys sharing these practices with others.

ERIN SHARAF
MINDFULNESS INSTRUCTOR

Erin Sharaf is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher through the Mindfulness Center at Brown, and is qualified to teach several other mindfulness-based interventions including Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). As a certified primary care physician assistant, she is interested in the mind body connection as a way to facilitate healing, peace, and empowerment. She has a master’s degree in Integrative Medicine and is a former professor of health sciences. Erin has been facilitating mindfulness groups in various settings since 2009, and is currently an instructor for UMass Memorial Health’s Center for Mindfulness. 

GIULIA LOCATELLI
PHD, AFFILIATE POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

Giulia is a nurse and holds a PhD in Nursing and Public Health (November 2023) from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Australian Catholic University. Giulia has several international research and clinical experiences in Italy, Scotland, Denmark, and US. She has experience with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research. Her research mainly focuses on the study of symptom science, interoception, and self-care in chronic conditions. Giulia is collaborating with the Mind & Heart team for the Mind Your Heart Study II.

KEVIN LETHBRIDGE
BS, AFFILIATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Kevin Lethbridge received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Rhode Island College. Kevin is an affiliate research assistant on the Mind 2 Move study. He has experience in Phase-II clinical trials. He has experience providing critical support to principal investigators including patient recruitment and enrollment, specimen collections, chart review, and data entry. He has also assisted the biobank by processing and shipping biospecimens.